THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Siéntese. Gracias. Buenos dias.
Bienvenidos a la Casa Blanca. (Applause.) I am pleased to welcome you to
the gathering of the 198th anniversary of Colombia's independence, which
was celebrated last Sunday in grand style. Colombia and the United States
have a long history of close ties. As many of you may know, Colombia
supports [sic] America's primary source of energy -- a resource that many
Americans use, and we thank you for your coffee. (Laughter.)

I'm proud that the Secretary of Agriculture is with us, Eddie Schafer,
Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Chief of Staff Bolten, Director
John Walters, the Office of Drug -- of National Drug Control Policy; other
members of my administration who are concerned about making sure our
relationship with Colombia is strong and vibrant.

I appreciate very much the members of the Congress who have come today:
Dreier, Herger, Diaz-Balart. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for
showing your solidarity with the people of Colombia.

I appreciate very much the Embajadora de Colombia. Ambassador Barco,
thanks for coming. Carolina Rentería is with us, of the cabinet, the
President's cabinet. Welcome. Hector Morales, the Ambassador of the
United States to the Organization of American States. Camilo Ospina,
Ambassador of Colombia to the Organization of American States. Luis
Moreno, proud Colombian citizen, President of the Inter-Amercian
Development Bank -- hola, Luis. Representatives of LULAC, I am so proud of
the resolution you recently passed, thank you for your -- (applause.)

And after this brief discurso, I'll be welcoming Jorge Celedón y Jimmy
Zambrano to entertain us with some songs.

Before we do, though, I want to -- got some comments I'd like to make.

The anniversary of Colombia's independence falls only a couple weeks after
America's Independence Day celebration. And that's appropriate, because
our two nations have much in common. Like the United States, Colombia
gained its independence when a band of patriots rallied together against a
distant monarchy. Like the United States, Colombia was unified in its
earliest days by a daring general who became the country's first President.
And like the United States, Colombia built a new government around the
rule of law and the notion that liberty was an unalienable right.

Our countries have shared a strong bond from the very beginning. In 1822,
President James Monroe was one of the first heads of state to recognize
Colombia's independence. And that same year, America became one of the
first countries to establish a new diplomatic mission with that republic.
From those strong foundations we built a lasting friendship on a mutual
respect for liberty and a commitment to a more peaceful world.

This friendship has endured through good times and bad. Less than a decade
ago, it looked as if peace and freedom were on retreat in Colombia. The
country was in the grip of drug cartels and kidnappers. The Marxist
terrorist network known as the FARC threatened to overthrow the
democratically elected government. These were tough times for our friend.
Our two nations launched an ambitious program that helped rescue Colombia
from the brink of becoming a failed state.

Plan Colombia, which started under my predecessor, made it clear that the
United States would support the Colombian government's efforts to modernize
its military, to fight terrorists and drug kingpins, to expand educational
opportunities, and provide Colombians with alternatives to a life of terror
and narco-trafficking. The Colombian government has taken the lead on this
bold plan, and the United States has been proud to help. And today, Plan
Colombia is working. (Applause.)

One of the main reasons for Plan Colombia's success is the courage of
Colombia's President, President Uribe. (Applause.) President Uribe has
taken bold stands to defend our shared democratic values. He has been a
strong and capable partner in fighting drugs and crime and terror. He's
demonstrated that he is deeply committed to providing a better future for
the people of his country.

Since President Uribe took office, the Colombian government reports that
homicides have dropped by 40 percent, kidnappings have dropped by more than
80 percent, terrorist attacks have dropped by more than 70 percent.
Reforms to Colombia's criminal justice system have dramatically increased
conviction rates. And last year, Colombia's economy saw its largest growth
in nearly three decades. These are impressive achievements -- and they're
a testament to the determination of the Colombian people and their
outstanding President.

Earlier this month, President Uribe's administration scored another
impressive triumph. In a daring covert operation, members of the Colombian
military infiltrated the FARC, and convinced the terrorists to transfer 15
hostages -- including three Americans -- to a new location. Disguised
Colombian agents arrived in a helicopter to carry out the transfer. And
when the hostages lifted off, they were astonished to hear an army officer
say nine words they thought they would never hear: "We are the Colombia
Army, and you are free." (Applause.)

Today, three Americans are back with their families because of the heroism
of the Colombian allies. On behalf of our entire nation, I welcome home
Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell -- and I thank the brave
members of the Colombian military who rescued them.

The success of this rescue mission underscores the progress the Colombian
government has made. This progress is also evident in the hearts and minds
of the Colombian people. On Sunday, more than a million Colombians marched
in their nation's streets, and called on FARC to release its remaining
hostages and to stop practicing terror. They chanted a simple, but
powerful message -- "Libertad" -- that means freedom. (Laughter.) America
should support this noble stand by the Colombian people. And the single
most important step we can do so is for the United States Congress to
approve the Colombia free trade agreement that our countries signed more
than a year and a half ago. (Applause.)

Approving this agreement would strengthen our nation's economy. Because of
legislation that the Congress has passed -- particularly the Andean Trade
Preference Act -- today, almost all Colombian exports enter the United
States duty free. The Congress made that decision. Yet our products
exported to Colombia face tariffs of up to 35 percent, with rates even
higher for some agricultural products. In other words, the current
situation is one-sided. And the failure to approve the free trade
agreement is hurting our businesses who want to sell their products into
Colombia.

Tariffs imposed on U.S. exports to Colombia are estimated to have exceeded
$1.1 billion while the trade agreement has awaited congressional approval.
Every day that passes without the agreement's approval, that number only
gets bigger. Congress has already voted to allow duty free access to
American markets for Colombian products. Now Congress should create a
level playing field -- they ought to give American workers and farmers the
same access to Colombia's markets. And the way for them to do that is to
approve the free trade agreement. (Applause.)

Opening markets is especially important during this time of economic
uncertainty. Last year, exports accounted for more than 40 percent of
America's total economic growth. Doesn't it make sense to continue that
kind of growth during these economic uncertain times? I think it does. We
ought to be working to open up new opportunities and new markets. More
than 8,000 small and mid-sized American businesses export to Colombia.
Approving this agreement will help these small businesses and middle-sized
businesses grow their businesses and create high-paying jobs.

Approving this agreement is also an urgent national security priority. It
makes good economic sense, but it's important for our national security
that the Congress approve this agreement. While the FARC has seen its
power reduced, the terrorists are still actively plotting against the
Colombian government. Colombia also faces a hostile and anti-American
neighbor in Venezuela, where the regime has forged an alliance with Cuba,
collaborated with FARC terrorist leaders, and provided sanctuary to FARC
units. It is in America's interests to stand by Colombia in the face of
this threat -- and the best way to do so is for Congress to allow a vote on
the Colombia free trade agreement.

President Uribe has stood strong against tyranny and terror. He's done
everything we have asked him to do and more. He's told members of Congress
that approving this agreement is one of the most important steps that
America can take to show its support for Colombia. Now the Colombian
people are waiting to see what our Congress will do. To demonstrate
America's good faith, to stand by our strong friend, to send a clear signal
that we appreciate our ally, the United States Congress must approve this
free trade agreement. (Applause.)

And once they do so, Congress should quickly approve our free trade
agreements with Panama and South Korea. By doing so, they can reassure
these countries that America will stand by its word -- and that we will not
abandon our friends.

It's been nearly two centuries since the United States of America and the
nation of Colombia forged a friendship in the earliest days of our
independence. In the years since, both of our nations have learned that
the cost of maintaining a free society is remaining vigilant against the
enemies of freedom. We believe that freedom is the birthright of all. We
believe that it is the responsibility of free nations to support one
another against those who would undermine our freedom.

The United States is committed to the security of Colombia -- we're
committed to defeating the forces of terror. Our countries can meet this
challenge together. And through our partnership we can usher in a new era
of enhanced prosperity and peace in our neighborhood.